How to make links open in the application on Xiaomi

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face an annoying situation: when you click on a link in a messenger or social network, the system instead of running the target application suggests opening it in the browser. This behavior of the MIUI or HyperOS operating system can be caused by a failure in file associations, random choice of action “always” for a web browser in the past, or aggressive optimization of background processes.

This problem disrupts user experience, causing them to waste time copying links and manually inserting them into the right programs. Fortunately, in most cases, you can fix this problem using software methods without having to resort to complex code manipulation or flashing the device, you just need to consistently check the application settings and system permissions.

Below, we’ll take a closer look at all the possible reasons why links open in Chrome or Mi Browser instead of native software, and provide step-by-step instructions for restoring links to work correctly.

The main reason is the way the Android operating system handles so-called "Deep Links." When an app is installed, it logs the types of links it can handle. For example, YouTube says that links like youtube.com and youtu.be should open on it. However, if a user has previously accidentally chosen "Always Open in Chrome," the system remembers this choice as a priority.

Another common reason is the operation of MIUI Optimization or power saving modes. Aggressive memory management policies can “kill” application background processes, which makes the system consider them unavailable for instantaneous link opening and redirects the request to the browser.

⚠️ Note: If you recently updated your firmware or installed third-party launchers, your file association settings may have been reset or changed by system optimization scripts.

In addition, conflicts can occur when there are multiple browsers or shell applications. If there are three browsers installed on the system, and none of them is clearly assigned to the main for all types of links, Android can ask for choices each time or use default behavior, which in the shell of Xiaomi is often tied to the system browser.

📊 How often do you have a problem with opening links?
Every day.
Once a week.
Only after the update
Never had.

Resetting application settings by default

The most effective way to get your phone to forget the wrong choice and ask again what to open links is to reset the default settings for browsers and targeted applications. This action will not delete your data, history or passwords, it will only return the original priority state.

First of all, you need to find the application that is currently intercepting links (usually Chrome, Mi Browser or Yandex). Go to the Settings menu → Apps → All apps. Find your main browser in the list. Inside the application menu, select “Default” or “Open by default”.

On the screen, you'll see a button called "Reset default settings" or "Clear silences." Press it. Then repeat the procedure for all installed browsers to eliminate conflicts. Now, when you click on the link, the system must again suggest the choice of application.

☑️ Checking the resetting of settings

Done: 0 / 1

If the problem persists, a similar procedure should be done for the app itself, which does not open links. For example, if the transition to Telegram or Instagram does not work, find these applications in the installed list and also click the silence reset button, which will force the system to re-register their ability to process web addresses.

Modern versions of Android (starting with 6.0 and up, including current MIUI 13/14 and HyperOS) have a more subtle setup that allows you to manually specify which domains the app should open and which the browser should open, which solves the problem when resetting does not help.

Go to Settings → Apps → All apps and select the app that should open links (like TikTok or AliExpress).Look for the “Open by Default” section. There will be a “Open Supported Links” switch. Make sure it is activated.

Below you will see a list of web addresses. If you use Ask mode, the system will specify the action each time. For complete automation, select Always Open in this app. If the list of domains is empty or missing, click Add Link and enter the address manually, such as aliexpress.com.

Mode of workSystem behaviourRecommendation
Don't open.Links always go to the browserUse it if the application is bugged
AskApplying an application selection menuOptimal for rare use
Open in annexInstant transition without questionsThe best choice for comfortable work
What if there is no “Open Supported Links” item?
In some older versions MIUI or on stripped-down Android builds, this item can be hidden, in which case only a complete reset of default settings for browsers, as described in the previous section, helps, or use of ADB-The Mi Browser system browser (or GetApps) often behaves aggressively, trying to become the default handler of all links. To limit its influence, you need to go to its internal settings. Open the browser, click on three menu bars and select Settings → Privacy and security: Check if the Open In-App Links option is activated inside the browser itself, and sometimes it works the other way around, forcing the browser to intercept links that should be sent to other programs. It’s also worth disabling various page load acceleration features that can block redirects to apps. ⚠️ Note: In newer versions of HyperOS, browser settings can be integrated into the general Security section. If you don't find options in the browser itself, check the Security app» → «Optimizer. It is also recommended to clear the browser cache. Accumulated temporary files may contain erroneous redirect data. Go to Settings → Annexes → Mi Browser → Memory and click "Clear Cache" and don't confuse "Clear Everything" with "Clean Everything" or you'll lose your bookmarks. ADB For advanced users who have standard methods do not work, there is an opportunity to forcefully configure link handlers through debugging. ADB. This is especially true if the system interface is damaged or hidden by the manufacturer. You'll need a computer, USB-cable and on-debugging USB The method is to send a command to the system about which application is preferred for a particular domain. --package com.example.app 0 1 example.com In this command, com.example.app is replaced by the batch name of the desired application, and example.com is replaced by the domain that you want to link. 1 means the inclusion of processing, 0 — Turning off: To find out the batch name of an application, you can use the command adb shell pm list packages or look at the properties of the application in the phone settings, which allows you to bypass the graphical interface and directly make changes to the system registry of communications. However, use it with caution: an incorrect syntax of the command can cause links to stop opening anywhere at all. 💡Use of the ADB — This is "heavy artillery." You can only resort to it if the settings reset and manual configuration in the phone menu have failed. The effect of system updates and resets is often temporary and involves bugs in a particular version of the firmware. Xiaomi regularly releases security patches and system updates that fix Android Intents (the mechanism for transferring data between applications). → The phone. → Version. MIUI/HyperOS. If a new version is available, it's recommended that you install it. Often developers fix conflicts with popular applications in these patches. In extreme cases, if nothing helps, you can reset all system settings to factory. This action will delete all your data, so be sure to make a full backup to the cloud or computer before starting the procedure. Reset will return all file associations to the original state, guaranteed to eliminate software conflicts. After resetting, when you first set up, carefully monitor the "What to open?" pop-ups, select the desired application and click "Always" to immediately set the correct priority. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Why do links open in the browser in only one application, for example, in WhatsApp? This is due to the fact that each application (messembler, social network) has its own browser settings, "Can switch to the browser or link to the browser?" Yes, malware or ad modules in questionable apps can intercept clicks. If the problem appears abruptly and is accompanied by pop-up ads, check the phone with antivirus and remove recently installed suspicious programs. Resetting defaults removes my logins and passwords? No, resetting the default settings only affects file and link associations. Your personal data, accounts, photos and correspondence remain safe. Only the choice is removed: "Always open in...." What to do if the desired application is not in the list to open links? Make sure that the application is not installed, the old version can not be updated.